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SF Tech Week 2026

Hype v. Hesitancy: Exploring Silicon Valley’s AI Confidence Gap

Hosted by Weber Shandwick

When
5:00 – 8:00 PM
Where
FiDi
Format
Panel / Fireside Chat
Hype v. Hesitancy: Exploring Silicon Valley’s AI Confidence Gap artwork

/ About this event

As part of SF Tech Week, Weber Shandwick will host a timely, stirring panel discussion led by Megan Morrone, Technology Editor at CNBC exploring the growing cultural chasm between Silicon Valley’s embrace of AI and the general public sentiment.

This delta is reflective of a broader debate that pits seemingly enthusiastic advocates against cautious critics of AI. While the Bay Tech sector accelerates into an AI-first reality, mainstream sentiment outside the tech epicenter remains cautious. The broader public continues to actively wrestle with AI’s nuanced challenges like ethical boundaries, algorithmic bias, IP rights, and workforce impact.

This session will bring together industry voices whose work addresses these urgent realities to dissect the geographic and cultural disconnect and examine how the tech industry can bridge the gap between relentless AI optimism and societal hesitancy. Our panelists will each bring a unique perspective to the conversation, aiming to address why these challenges exist and how to navigate them, using examples from their everyday work in technology.

Networking reception to follow!

This event is a part of #SFTechWeek—a week of events hosted by VCs and startups to bring together the tech ecosystem. Learn more at www.tech-week.com.

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Tech Week 2026

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